Rotavirus Infection
Medical Revising Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Revising Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
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Moms Uninformed About Rotavirus Infection
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor:
Dennis Lee, MD
 A survey of 600 U.S. mothers with children under the age
three revealed that over 70% of mothers have read or heard little or nothing
about rotavirus infection, the most common cause of diarrhea in young children throughout the world. Almost
all children have had multiple rotavirus infections by the time they enter
kindergarten. While the illness is normally self-limited and does not require
special treatment, complications and even death can result from
severe dehydration that can occur with rotavirus illness when supportive treatment
(rehydration) is not given. Rotavirus infection is responsible for an estimated
500,000 visits to doctor's offices and 160,000 emergency-room visits among
children each year in the U.S.
Rotavirus symptoms include:
Abdominal pain may also occur, and infected children may
have profuse watery diarrhea up to several times per day. Symptoms can last from
three to nine days. Immunity from repeated infection is incomplete after a rotavirus infection, but
repeated infections tend to be less severe than the original infection.
Rotavirus infection is highly contagious. The primary
mode of transmission of rotavirus is the passage of the virus in stool to the
mouth of another child,
known as a fecal-oral route of transmission. The virus can live for hours on
hands and even longer on hard surfaces. Since the virus is so prevalent, it is
very difficult or even impossible to prevent your child from acquiring a
rotavirus infection.
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What is rotavirus?
Rotavirus is a virus that infects the bowels. It is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among infants and children throughout the world and causes the death of about 600,000 children worldwide annually. The name rotavirus comes from the characteristic wheel-like appearance of the virus when viewed by electron microscopy (the name rotavirus is derived from the Latin
rota, meaning "wheel").
Almost all
children have become infected with rotavirus by their third birthday. Repeat
infections with different viral strains are possible, and most children have
several episodes of rotavirus infection in the first years of life. After
several infections with different strains of the virus, children acquire
immunity to rotavirus. Children between the ages of 6 and 24 months are at
greatest risk for developing severe disease from rotavirus infection. Adults
sometimes become infected, but the resulting illness is usually mild.
Each year in the U.S., rotavirus infection results in the hospitalization of an estimated 55,000 children, 200,000 emergency-room visits, and 400,000 visits to doctor's offices. It is estimated that 100 children die each year in the U.S. from complications of rotavirus infection. Rotavirus affects populations in all socioeconomic groups and is equally prevalent in industrialized and developing countries, so differences in sanitation practices or water supply are not likely to affect the incidence of the infection.
In the U.S., rotavirus infections usually peak in the fall months in the Southwest and spread to the
Northeast by spring, so infections are most common during the winter months from November to May. However, infection with rotavirus can occur anytime of the year.
What are rotavirus symptoms?
The time period from initial infection to symptoms (incubation period) for
rotavirus disease is around two days. Symptoms of the disease include fever, vomiting, and
watery diarrhea. Abdominal pain may also occur, and infected children may have
profuse watery diarrhea up to several times per day. Symptoms generally persist
for three to nine days. Immunity from repeated infection is incomplete after a
rotavirus infection, but repeated infections tend to be less severe than the
original infection.
Rotavirus infection can be associated with severe
dehydration in infants and children. Severe dehydration can lead to death in
rare cases, so it is important to recognize and treat this complication of
rotavirus infection. In addition to the symptoms of rotavirus infection
discussed above, parents should be aware of the symptoms of dehydration that can
occur with rotavirus infection or with other serious conditions.
Symptoms of dehydration include
- lethargy,
- dry, cool
skin,
- absence of tears when crying,
- dry or sticky mouth,
- sunken eyes or sunken fontanelle (the soft spot on the
head of infants), and
- extreme thirst.
Next: How is rotavirus infection spread? »
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